Learning to lay out expectations

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In this project management tutorial Angela shares tips on how to lay out expectations for the requirements elicitation with the person being interviewed, in order to set the stage and maximize participation and engagement.

- I'm sure you can relate to being on your way to a meeting…with no idea what the meeting is about.…When this happens, you may wonder why…you got the meeting invite, or you might be thinking…it could be a waste of your time.…You're too busy with other things!…It can be frustrating to be in this situation.…When starting off an interview, once you build rapport,…it's important to set expectations with the interviewee…about what the meeting is about,…and address any lingering concerns or questions…that may prevent a successful dialogue.…

Setting expectations early is critical…in a productive dialogue.…I like to start off my interviews…sharing with the interviewee my goal…and purpose of the interview,…and then ask if they have any questions…or concerns before jumping in.…It is not always comfortable to do so,…but it always amazes me when the interviewee…has a question or concern and it's usually…something interesting and typically changes…how I interact moving forward for the rest of the interview.…Some interviewees simply say something like,…

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Released

1/20/2016

Interviews are the most popular way to elicit project requirements. They also help business analysts and project managers understand the project from the user's point of view. This course reviews interview techniques that help build relationships with project stakeholders and obtain accurate information about the project needs. Angela Wick helps you identify when to use interviews for requirements gathering, who to interview, and how to plan, conduct, and follow up on interviews.

Lynda.com is a PMI Registered Education Provider. This course qualifies for professional development units (PDUs). To view the activity and PDU details for this course, click here.The PMI Registered Education Provider logo is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.